In the beta form of the Aadhaar Virtual ID, users can generate their Virtual ID and can use it for updating their address in the Aadhaar online data for the time being.

Aadhaar Virtual ID&nbsp

New Delhi: The UIDAI has finally unveiled the much-awaited Aadhaar Virtual ID in a beta version, and has promised that service providers will "soon" begin accepting the same in lieu of Aadhaar number. In the beta form of the Aadhaar Virtual ID, users can generate their Virtual ID and can use it for updating their address in the Aadhaar online data for the time being. For the unknown, UIDAI announced the Virtual ID concept earlier this year in order to address privacy concerns.

Simply put, the new feature will allow Aadhaar holders to use their Virtual ID (VID) number without even disclosing the 12-digit Aadhaar number for verification or authentication purposes. "Soon, service providers will start accepting VID in place of Aadhaar number. For now, you can use this for online address update in your Aadhaar," the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said in a recent tweet. Also read: Aadhaar deadline extended: What it means for the common man

The tweet urges all the users to generate their VIDs and also gives a link to the Aadhaar website for the same. In January this year, Unique Identification Authority of India announced plans to introduce 'Virtual ID' feature that an Aadhaar-card holder can generate from its website and use for various purposes, including SIM verification, instead of disclosing the actual 12-digit biometric ID.

The VID, which is a random 16-digit number mapped to a person's Aadhaar number, together with biometrics of the user would give any authorized agency like a mobile company, limited details such as name, address, and photograph, which are enough for any verification. The VID effectively gives users an option of not sharing Aadhaar number at the time of authentication.

UIDAI had stated that it will be compulsory to accept the Virtual ID for all agencies that undertake authentication from their users from June 1, 2018. The launch of VID comes at a time when the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Aadhaar Act and the use of a biometric identifier in various government and non-government services. UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey last month made a presentation in the apex court to defend the government's ambitious Aadhaar scheme.